# NTSB CHI85LA291: Balloon Works Firefly 6B, N1533S, Battle Creek, MI, July 16, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1985, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Battle Creek, MI
- Location: 42.3212° N, 85.1797° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Battle Creek, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3212&lon=-85.1797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13144
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA291
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13144/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA291

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Midair collision, cruise - normal
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot of other aircraft
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Midair collision, descent - normal
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE ENVELOPE OF BALLOON N1533S WAS PENETRATED AND TORN BY THE BASKET OF BALLOON I-FROG. THE ENVELOPE WAS DAMAGED TO THE DEGREE THAT ALTITUDE COULD NOT BE SUSTAINED. THE AERONQUT OF N1533S WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED UPON GROUND IMPACT. I-FROG WAS LANDED WITHOUT DAMAGE OR INJURY.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N1533S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1533S-1989-08-15), registration cancelled 1989-08-15, S/N 10216 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY 6B
- Registry model: [Balloon Works FIREFLY 6B](https://openairdocs.org/model/balloon-works-firefly-6b) (registry code 1050103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 10216
- Airframe hours: 180
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Alan Blount
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 1984, 24 hours before

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: IFROG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CAMERON V-77
- Category: Balloon
- Serial number: 848
- Airframe hours: 120
- Engines: NONE NONE unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Sport Promotion Srl
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 1985, 25 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N1533S; age 38; commercial; flight hours: 402 total, 402 in this make and model, 392 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft 2; age 28; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 637 total, 481 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850716071312A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850716071312A), Jul 16, 1985: Balwks FIREFLY6B, Battlecreek, MI, Substantial damage. Ascended until basket of descending balloon above the ifrog,tore a hole in the envelope. 1533S descended into tree.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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